Department for Education

Teachers: Training

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to improve the provision of mental heath training for teachers and lecturers at universities.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 24 July 2019



Higher education providers have legal responsibilities under the Equality Act (2010) to support students, including those with mental health conditions. As independent and autonomous institutions it is for providers to determine the precise nature of any mental health training they offer to staff. Mental health service provision is a priority for the government, which is why the former Prime Minister (Theresa May), my right. Hon friend for Maidenhead recently announced measures on 17 June which overhaul the government’s approach to preventing mental illness. These measures included providing £1 million to the Office of Students (OfS) for a competition to find innovative new ways to support mental health at universities and colleges. The OfS is currently working with students, sector representatives, experts and relevant government departments to develop priorities. They aim to publish further details by the end of the year. The department is also working closely with Universities UK on embedding the Step Change programme. This calls on higher education leaders to adopt mental health service provision as a strategic priority and take a whole-institution approach to embed a culture of good mental health practice. The University Mental Health Charter, which was announced in June 2018, is also expected to drive up standards in promoting mental health and wellbeing, positive working environments and excellent support for both students and staff. The former Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Chris Skidmore), my hon. Friend for Kingswood gave a speech on 7 May 2019 that focused on early career researcher contracts and employment conditions. The Independent Review of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, led by Professor Julia Buckingham, has recognised issues of wellbeing and poor mental health as a significant challenge faced by early career academics and researchers. Recommendations to address these challenges are currently under review and a revised concordat is expected in September. We hope future joint work by the OfS and Research England into the mental health and wellbeing of doctoral researchers can identify good practice to take forward in this area.

Overseas Students: Eastern Europe

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to secure continued access to UK universities for eastern European students after 2020; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure that UK universities are affordable for European students after 2020.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 25 July 2019



International students make a vital contribution to UK higher education, both economically and culturally, diversifying campuses and enriching UK student experiences. The UK government recognises the value of international students. In the International Education Strategy, published in March 2019, we set an ambition to increase the number of international students choosing to study in the UK to 600,000 by 2030, an increase of over 30%. A link to the International Education Strategy can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-education-strategy-global-potential-global-growth/international-education-strategy-global-potential-global-growth. On 28 May 2019, the government announced guarantees on student finance for EU nationals to help provide certainty. EU nationals (and their family members) who start a course in England in the 2020/21 academic year or before will continue to be eligible for ‘home fee’ status and student finance support from Student Finance England for the duration of their course, provided they meet the residency requirement. Applications for courses starting in academic year 2021/22 do not open until September 2020. We will provide sufficient notice for prospective EU students on fee arrangements ahead of the 2021/22 academic year and subsequent years in future.

Schools: Sponsorship

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education,how many independent schools have become involved in academy sponsorship or the founding of free schools in the state system since 2017.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 25 July 2019



As at 23 July 2019, there are six independent schools sponsoring a total of 13 academies. All of these independent schools were approved as sponsors prior to 2017.Of the free schools we have opened since 2017, the London Academy of Excellence (LAE) in Tottenham was set up by an independent school, Highgate School. LAE Tottenham is supported by Highgate School, as well as eight other leading independent partner schools.The school’s sister school, LAE Stratford, was set up by Brighton College in 2012. The school reported that in the 2018/19 academic year, 26 students received offers from Oxford or Cambridge. This is an outstanding achievement, especially in a geographic area with relatively low Oxbridge destinations.The Department has a joint understanding with the Independent Schools Council to encourage more independent schools to work in partnership with state-funded schools across four key areas: governance, teaching, curriculum and targeted school improvement. The Department announced funding for cross-sector partnerships in June and will invite bids in the autumn.The joint understanding also encourages independent schools to offer a greater number of full bursary places, targeted at children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

STEM Subjects: Higher Education

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with universities on the effect of higher education funding on the sustainability of STEM courses in (a) Portsmouth and (b) the UK.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 25 July 2019



Part of the teaching grant funding that the government provides to eligible higher education providers, via the Office for Students, is allocated to support the provision of high-cost subjects, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.As part of the government’s consideration of the independent panel’s report to the review of Post-18 Education and Funding, Department for Education officials are holding discussions with a number of stakeholders, including universities. These conversations are likely to include higher education funding and the provision of high-priority courses, such as STEM.

STEM Subjects: Higher Education

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect on funding for STEM subjects at higher education institutions of the UK leaving the EU.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 25 July 2019



Part of the teaching grant funding that the government provides to eligible higher education providers, via the Office for Students, is allocated to support the provision of high-cost subjects, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.The department’s officials engage regularly with higher education institutions in relation to higher education funding and the provision of high-priority courses such as STEM, as well as on EU Exit.

Higher Education: Equal Pay

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the gender pay gap in higher education (a) at Portsmouth University and (b) in the UK.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 25 July 2019



Since April 2017, employers with more than 250 staff are required by law to annually report gender pay gap information. All of the gender pay gap data published by organisations, including the University of Portsmouth, is available on the government’s reporting website: https://gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/. It is crucial that employers use their gender pay gap data to identify the barriers to women’s recruitment and progression and take action to break down those barriers. The government has published advice for employers on how to diagnose their gaps and develop an action plan, alongside evidence-based guidance on practical actions they can take to close the gap. The higher education (HE) sector has been proactive in taking action to address the gender pay gap and the government is supportive of this work. We have seen considerable progress in the number of women in leadership positions in HE, for example, the increase in female vice-chancellors. This is largely down to the dedicated efforts by the sector to improve the progression of women, through programmes such as the Aurora development programme and the world-renowned Athena Swan Charter. I also look forward to the findings of the Independent Review of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, led by Professor Julia Buckingham, which we expect to see published in September.

Higher Education: Pensions

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect on jobs of the decision not to support higher education institutions with increased pension costs (a) at Portsmouth University and (b) in the UK.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 25 July 2019



In April 2019, the department published its response following the public consultation on funding increases to teachers’ pensions employer contributions for all Teacher Pension Scheme employers in England. All representations made by stakeholders, including the concerns raised by the University of Portsmouth, were considered, alongside all evidence relevant to the issues involved. This included the impact on redundancies, recruitment and retention. Details of this analysis can be found in figure 5 on page 14 of the government response, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/funding-increases-to-teachers-pensions-employer-contributions.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Buildings: Insulation

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 18 July 2019, Building safety update, HCWS 1757, what his Department's definition is of the exceptional circumstances that would provide justification for private sector building owners not completing remediation of buildings with unsafe ACM cladding by June 2020.

Esther McVey: Our expectation is that remediation should be completed within six months of agreeing a plan – by June 2020. Exceptional circumstances that may prevent this deadline being met will be considered on a case by case basis once full applications are received.

Buildings: Insulation

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 18 July 2019, Building safety update, HCWS 1757, how leaseholders will be notified whether the owners of the private sector buildings to which they hold a leasehold will be required to complete remediation of those buildings with unsafe ACM cladding by June 2020.

Esther McVey: We are requiring responsible entities (that is, the party with primary legal obligation to carry out remediation works) to inform all leaseholders and residents that they will be applying for funding from the Private Sector Aluminium Composite Material Cladding Remediation Fund.Responsible entities will also be required to inform leaseholders and residents of the nature of the works they intend to carry out as well as providing regular updates to leaseholders and residents on the progress of their funding application and remediation works.

Buildings: Insulation

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 18 July 2019, Building safety update, HCWS 1757, what steps he is taking to expedite remedial works on buildings with unsafe ACM cladding in cases where private sector building owners have given a clear commitment to that remediation and a plan has been agreed but the proposed finish date for those works is after June 2020.

Esther McVey: We will work closely with responsible entities at all stages in the process to ensure that remediation is completed at pace and by June 2020, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Housing: Standards

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2019 to Question 263865 on permitted development rights, what assessment he has made of the implications for the quality of new homes of the lack of minimum standards in Building Regulations for (a) space and (b) daylight; and if he will undertake to review those regulations.

Esther McVey: The review of permitted development rights for the change of use to residential will consider the quality standards of the homes delivered in England. This will consider matters relating to size, location, amenity and design.   In addition, as part of its implementation plan for the Hackitt review, the Government has said that it will review the Building Regulations guidance. Any issues that are identified, such as space or daylight could contribute to our ongoing consideration of building regulations. The Government will set out its detailed plans in due course.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Donkeys: Animal Products

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) China and (b) countries in east Africa on ending the international trade in donkey skins; and what recent steps he has taken to help implement an international ban on the trade in donkey skins.

Zac Goldsmith: Defra takes the welfare of donkeys and other equids very seriously and has taken an active role in global efforts to monitor and strengthen welfare standards for these species. This included contributing to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Code chapter on Welfare or Working Equids adopted by OIE members in 2016, which provides species specific guidance to complement the general welfare principles applying to all animals. In addition we have contributed to the EU voluntary initiative developing guidance on responsible ownership and care of equidae. Influencing the raising of global standards through international fora can be an effective and sustainable way to address these issues across the world and therefore have a broader impact than bilateral meetings with particular countries. This is part of the Government’s strong commitment to strengthening welfare standards.

Livestock: Electromagnetic Fields

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has commissioned research on the potential effect of electro-magnetic waves on levels of premature deaths in farm animals.

Zac Goldsmith: Defra manages an active programme of research to support the health and welfare of livestock. The research programme focusses on prevention and control of infectious diseases as well as covering animal welfare issues. There is no current research funded on electro-magnetic waves and their potential impact from this programme. Defra does have a regular, consistent systematic process for identifying and assessing new threats to animal health and welfare through the Veterinary Risk Group and the issue has not been raised which could inform future research requirements.

Food Supply

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequacy of the provision of food for (a) hospitals, (b) schools and (c) care settings in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 October 2019.

George Eustice: Public sector food provision for specific sectors including hospitals, schools and care settings is led by the relevant Government departments. However, Defra has been working closely with lead Departments (DfE, DHSC, MOJ, MOD) to support their contingency planning for food supply to public services. Defra is providing advice and support to these departments especially to support their engagement with the food industry. Lead Government Departments are engaging with key suppliers for schools, hospitals and prisons to ensure the supply chain is prepared and supply is maintained.

Food Supply

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations the Government has received from representatives of (a) food companies and (b) food bank organisers on the worst-case effect on food supplies of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to involve (a) food surplus re-distributors and (b) frontline charities that feed vulnerable groups including (i) homeless shelters, (ii) domestic violence refuges, (iii) mental health groups in supply chain conversations and planning in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

George Eustice: Defra Ministers and officials have been meeting regularly with the food industry to understand the potential impacts of a no deal scenario in October and support contingency planning by the industry. Alongside this, there has been cross-Government engagement including Defra with 3rd sector organisations to understand the concerns and views of representatives from the food aid sector. The Government is committed to a strong safety net for those who need it and will continue to spend over £90 billion a year on welfare benefits. Additionally, Defra is working to increase levels of surplus food being redistributed through a £15 million fund to reduce unnecessary food waste that is still edible and can be redirected to feed those in need.